Government and Rebellion eBook

every other course fails—­“resistance
to tyrants is obedience to God!” Man was not
made for tyranny. He was not made for
any form of government that crushes out his intellect
and his religious capabilities. He was made to
be governed morally; to be under righteous law; law
which, while it restrains passion, selfishness and
crime, gives a man all the freedom that he is able
and willing to use safely for himself, and
for the commonwealth; all that is consistent with
individual development and the national good.

I am not one of those who believe that the voice of
the people is, without exception, the voice of God.
It was not so at the Deluge, but quite the reverse.
It was not so when Israel clamored for a king—­not
in mercy but in anger, God gave them their request.
It was not so when Absalom stole the hearts of the
people, and stirred up rebellion against his father.
And yet, when a nation, independent of party, free
from the excitements of momentary interest, without
the influence of ambitious leaders, under the calm
guidance of reason, history, and the spirit of the
age,—­rises spontaneously against oppression,
against iniquity, and demands just laws; rights
for all; free thought, free speech, free labor, free
worship; when compacts are not violated; when moderation
is maintained; when the spirit of humanity is preserved,—­then,
I believe, “the voice of the people is
the voice of God.” I have no question that,
in the great principle, Cromwell and his puritan hosts
were right in their revolutionary action. I could
never doubt that our fathers did a noble, glorious,
and Christian deed in throwing off the yoke of Britain,
and proclaiming a new government for themselves and
their posterity. It was right to contend and
bleed for equal representation, for freedom of conscience,
and for an independent nationality in which these high
ends could be secured.

The first government of which we have account was
a Theocracy—­that is, “the government
of God.” He was the only King. He
revealed the law, appointed leaders, gave rules for
worship, instruction and warfare. Thus in the
outset did he set up his claims among men. He
established the great precedent, which men ought to
have followed, which the world has ignored; but to
which the thoughts and the will of the race shall ultimately
return. It is true now that government,
as such, is ordained of God. All government,
in its elemental authority, is a theocracy. All
power is of God; he ordains law. He originates
the idea of civil compact. While, therefore,
the principles of governments among men may be defective,
and the administration wrong and hurtful, the great
fact of government is a Divine fact.
Good government is emphatically God’s
government—­intended to suppress evil, to
promote holiness and happiness. “The powers
that be are ordained of God.” “Whosoever
therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance